WHO's Sweetener Warning: Artificial sugar substitutes offer no weight loss benefits, pose health risks
PTC News Desk: The World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned against the use of artificial sweeteners, stating that they do not aid in weight loss and may have serious health implications. In new guidelines released on Monday, the UN health agency advises against the consumption of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS).
According to the WHO, a systematic review of available evidence suggests that the use of NSS does not provide any long-term benefits in reducing body fat for both adults and children. Furthermore, the review indicates potential adverse effects from prolonged use of NSS, including an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in adults.
Artificial sweeteners are widely consumed by millions of people every day in various products, such as diet soda and coffee sweeteners, often as a means to avoid weight gain from sugar. However, the healthiness of these substitutes has been a subject of ongoing debate.
Also Read: Is nutrition better than exercise for weight loss? Deets inside
Francesco Branca, the WHO's director for nutrition and food safety, emphasized that replacing regular sugar with artificial sweeteners does not contribute to long-term weight control. He encouraged individuals to explore alternative methods of reducing their intake of free sugars, such as consuming naturally occurring sugars found in fruits or opting for unsweetened food and beverages. Branca stressed the non-essential nature and lack of nutritional value in NSS, urging people to reduce overall dietary sweetness from an early age to improve their health.
The WHO's recommendation applies to everyone, except individuals with pre-existing diabetes. It encompasses all synthetic and naturally occurring or modified sweeteners that are not classified as sugars and are found in manufactured food and beverages or sold separately for consumer use.
Also Read: Healthy diet leads to higher fitness in middle-aged adults: Study
The most commonly used sweeteners, as identified by the UN health agency, include acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia, and stevia derivatives.
It is important to note that the WHO's guidelines are considered conditional due to the challenges in drawing firm conclusions, given the diversity and complexity observed in the studies analyzed.
While some nutrition experts acknowledge the potential short-term benefits of using sweeteners as part of weight management interventions, they concur with the WHO's caution against their long-term use for weight management and chronic health conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Critics of the report highlight its reliance on observational studies that cannot establish a direct causal link between sweeteners and weight or disease. Nita Forouhi, a nutrition and epidemiology specialist at Cambridge University, notes that the key takeaway is to avoid NSS for longer-term weight management and chronic health conditions.
Tom Sanders, a professor emeritus of nutrition and dietetics at King's College London, raises concerns about the impact of replacing sugary drinks with artificially sweetened ones, which the review did not fully consider. Sanders anticipates that the WHO's advice might cause confusion, especially in countries like the UK, where a sugar tax has prompted beverage manufacturers to substitute sugar with artificial sweeteners. He also highlights the low quality of evidence supporting any links between sweeteners and disease.
In light of the WHO's warning, individuals are encouraged to consider the potential risks associated with artificial sweeteners and make informed decisions about their consumption.
Also Read: Exercise more important than diet to maintain weight loss: Study
- With inputs from agencies
